As we go into an election, it is important to identify that regardless of what the media says, regardless of the tactics that are used by campaigns to scare people into voting a certain way, our election process is not a fight against "the enemy." The belief in an enemy brings people to the polls, but I would encourage you to reject that way of thinking. The goal of our government, regardless of who is in power, is to abide by and protect our Constitution. Period. The idea that a political party is set on destroying the Constitution, through an amendment or a Supreme Court decision, is ludicrous. You might believe a particular law or policy has the potential to be especially damaging, but behind every one of those proposals are millions of thoughtful, dignified Americans who, whether directly or indirectly, voted that very law, proposition, candidate, or bill into being. When you echo derogatory terms to castigate ANY branch of our government, best case scenario, you may be 100% correct, but your language invites conflict with every voter who now feels a need to defend their vote against what they perceive as disrespectful or even treasonous opposition. Try on this phrase for size: “I think I understand what you are trying to accomplish via X, and I think your cause noble, but I disagree with your methods and I fear certain ramifications.” You’re not accomplishing something by simply calling the other side “evil”, but you’re doing a great job of building more barriers to prevent the conversation from moving forward.

Social media has enabled the public, unlike ever before, to determine what is popular. If the tone of your retweets and Facebook posts are apocalyptic in their tone, you can expect campaign managers and news networks to appeal to the sensationalism.

There is a reason the voting age is 18: we are all adults. Lately I've heard and seen more childish behavior than three children riding in the back seat of a car. As long as it brings people to the polls, it won't stop. Please reject it. Turn off the TV, restrain yourself from responding to that Facebook post. If you participate in a match or protest, please write about why you are doing it and what the experience was like for you so that those around you can learn more than what the media and the most sensational photographs portray. Don't let your opposition to a candidate be your motivation to vote, but rather your informed support of a candidate.